Sad But True: Viruses Kill At Nursing Homes Because Owners Don’T Care
Nursing homes face fines for violations, as well as the threat of losing their licenses and key funding from Medicare. As long as they can maintain their licenses, the nursing homes are financially motivated to hover around or below the minimum standards set by the CMS.
That lack of attention to detail can be seen in two of the most recent COVID-19 disaster sites in Maryland: FutureCare Lochearn in Baltimore (220 cases and 10 deaths) and Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mt. Airy (124 cases, 29 deaths). Before the pandemic, at its inspection in June of 2019, Lochearn was written up for 15 health citations, almost double the national average of 8.2, according tonursing home statisticsprovided publicly by Medicare. Pleasant View was even worse, with a one-star “much below average” rating and 26 health citations at its last inspection.
“Loved ones in nursing homes are dying in disproportionate numbers,” saidBrian Brown, a founding partner atBrown & Barron. “The nursing home industry has been well warned about the lethal potential of viruses such as this. COVID-19 does not absolve their responsibility to provide a safe environment for residents.”
Although the COVID-19 virus is highly contagious and deadly to seniors, the fatal spread of the virus in nursing homes is a man-made disaster. As with hurricanes, viruses are only getting more frequent and more deadly. When COVID-19 finally runs its course, and American lives slowly go back to normal, will the nursing home industry go back to normal as well?
Our attorneys at Brown & Barron, LLC focus on representing nursing home residents who have been neglected or abused. We know first-hand how these facilities function, and just how vulnerable residents are to injuries. If you believe you or a family member has suffered as a result of nursing home negligence, we invite you to contact our team as soon as possible to learn more about your rights and options.
To learn more about how the coronavirus is affecting nursing homes and their residents, visit our coronavirus update blog. Tocontact our team, call(410) 547-0202today for a consultation.